Publisher's Summary

The eagerly anticipated new Shardlake novel from the number-one best-selling author.

Summer, 1546. King Henry VIII is slowly, painfully dying. His Protestant and Catholic councillors are engaged in a final and decisive power struggle; whoever wins will control the government of Henry's successor, eight-year-old Prince Edward.

As heretics are hunted across London, and the radical Protestant Anne Askew is burned at the stake, the Catholic party focus their attack on Henry's sixth wife, Matthew Shardlake's old mentor, Queen Catherine Parr.

Shardlake, still haunted by events aboard the warship Mary Rose the year before, is working on the Cotterstoke Will case, a savage dispute between rival siblings. Then, unexpectedly, he is summoned to Whitehall Palace and asked for help by his old patron, the now beleaguered and desperate Queen. For Catherine Parr has a secret. She has written a confessional book, Lamentation of a Sinner, so radically Protestant that if it came to the King's attention it could bring both her and her sympathizers crashing down.

But, although the book was kept secret and hidden inside a locked chest in the Queen's private chamber, it has - inexplicably - vanished. Only one page has been found, clutched in the hand of a murdered London printer.

Shardlake's investigations take him on a trail that begins among the backstreet print shops of London but leads him and Jack Barak into the dark and labyrinthine world of the politics of the royal court. Loyalty to the Queen will drive him into a swirl of intrigue inside Whitehall Palace, where Catholic enemies and Protestant friends can be equally dangerous, and the political opportunists, who will follow the wind wherever it blows, more dangerous than either.

The theft of Queen Catherine's book proves to be connected to the terrible death of Anne Askew, while his involvement with the Cotterstoke litigants threatens to bring Shardlake himself to the stake.

Probably not. For me, Steven Crossley just does't get the tone right for the story right and and has massacred the voices of Barrak and Guy Morton. His reading and the voices he gives to the character distract from the story itself.

What did you like best about this story?

A good story with some twists and turn. As ever Master Shadlake is up against the establishment and usual Barrack gets more involved than is good for him. And some new characters come into Shardlake's world and surprisingly some of the former old retainers depart.

How could the performance have been better?

If Anton Lesser had been allowed to continue narrating the Shardlake chronicles. BRING BACK ANTON LESSER - THE TRUE VOICE OF Sharlake and his friends.

29 of 33 people found this review helpful

Brodie

Newcastle, United Kingdom

6/11/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Like listening to a play"

Where does Lamentation rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I am such a fan of CJ Sansom that he can do no wrong. The reader is just superb, I rate this book up in my top five, and will re listen to it of that there is no doubt

What other book might you compare Lamentation to, and why?

I suppose it would compare to either P Gegory or A. Weir both write about Tudor times and both are very good. Lots of historical content written within a really good story

Which character – as performed by Steven Crossley – was your favourite?

Barak, but I have to say that all the characters are so different and the voices he gives are so fitting to the character.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Love Tudor history and a good story this is for you

Any additional comments?

I cannot wait for another CJ Sansom book Lamentation ended with Shardlake being taken on by Elizabeth before she becomes queen I so hope that it is the start of a new era with Shardlake. I hope Barak re joins him together with Nicholas

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

colin

Airdrie, United Kingdom

29/12/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Solid As Usual"

Its been a while since I listened to the prvious five books in the series but within a few chapters I remembered why I loved them so much and was fully immersed in the story.

In Matthew Shardlake, CJ Sansom has created a kind, thoughtful man who seems wholly out of place in the unforgiving and sometimes barbaric world of Tudor London. This of course is what gets the main protagonist into trouble in such deep waters when surrounded by the sharks of King Henry VIII court.

Although Anton Lesser is one of my favourite narrators, Steven Crossley has done just as good a job as Lesser done on the previous books and captured the characters very well.

The author again has shown great understanding of the time period and the mix of a fictional story with non fictional events and characters with plenty of suspense and mystery makes for another solid instalment in The Shardlake series.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Ross K

15/12/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Wonderful addition to the series!"

What did you like most about Lamentation?

The Shardlake series by C. J. Sansom is my favourite series of books. Set in a period of profound turmoil and intrigue, I found Lamentation to be a gripping, thrilling listen. Lamentation has inspired me to listen to the series from the start (yet) again.

Have you listened to any of Steven Crossley’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Steven Crossley is my favourite narrator and I was delighted to see he was continuing to narrate this series. For me the series wouldn't be the same without him.

Any additional comments?

Not only is Lamentation an excellent addition to the series, it also represents excellent value at more than 25 hours long. Incredible value for one credit.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Siobhan

8/04/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Why are all the women voiced as petulant whiners?"

What made the experience of listening to Lamentation the most enjoyable?

The story was good, as always. I found the reader's interpretation of the parts dire, however. The duller characters were all given West Country or Northern accents (no stereotypes there then) and the women were all whiney and pathetic or arch and snobbish. Steven Crossley has a good, received pronunciation reading voice. I just wish the story hadn't been ruined by the truly terrible accents he was either directed, or chose, to imitate.

Would you be willing to try another one of Steven Crossley’s performances?

Probably not.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

...and you thought Catherine Parr had it easy.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

Winifred

7/11/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Bring back Anton Lesser"

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Story is great but I was so disappointed by the narrator that it has spoiled it for me. Anton Lesser is Shardlake!

What other book might you compare Lamentation to, and why?

All of the Shardlake books are great

How could the performance have been better?

Bring back Anton Lesser!

Any additional comments?

Please whoever is responsible for changing the narrator think again!

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Michelle

7/06/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Excellent"

As a huge fan of Aton Lesser reading Matthew Shardlake's tales, I was wary of a new narrator at book 6. However Steven Crossley is excellent, had me hooked from the start.Another great CJ Sansom book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

KEITH

5/11/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Such a shame about the narration!"

Would you listen to Lamentation again? Why?

No. Unfortunately like the other reviewers this masterpiece was ruined by the narration. Surely for an audiobook the narration is key, I do wonder how the selection process works somethimes as in my opinion it really can make or break a book. I love CJ Sansom and have listened and read all the books in this series. I just cant listen to Steven Crossleys narration on this or the last shardlake book, why oh why does he attempt such ridiculous accents, although this current book is better than the last where the narration was terrible.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Lamentation?

Classic Shardlake, the descriptions and history of the era were first class throughout

What didn’t you like about Steven Crossley’s performance?

As above, poor attempt at certain accents, in my opinion ruined Jack and Dr Guy.Anton Lesser is the voice of Shardlake

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Karen

BRISTOL, United Kingdom

29/10/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Magnificent"

Another brilliant instalment in the Shardlake series. I hope we get a seventh. Utterly captivating!